Tinderbox

I leave disappointed more often than not with Tinderbox. What frustrates me the most is their wifi. They always have their wifi on but only rarely has it actually worked for me. I am aware it is free so I would never expect lightening fast internet. However in the past I have tried to send an email on my iPad or do a quick Google search, and even after waiting for around 45 minutes, still no success, seems a little ridiculous. This seems to be a common problem but they have done absolutely nothing about it. At the risk of sounding patronising: perhaps it is time to admit defeat and call your supplier?
The food at Tinderbox is hit and miss. Often guilty of style over substance but sometimes not bad.
Their main draw is the coffee which I am quite impressed with. Also, I have found the staff to be really nice, especially the manager (I think?) who has a cheerful disposition. (But please sort out the wifi by my next visit or I think I might cry)

Tinderbox was my saviour several years ago when 9am lectures were the norm, so I’ll always hold it in high regard. In the Byres Road area, this really is the go to place for a good quality coffee.
Tinderbox have quite a few places dotted around the city, and even have a to go spot in Hillhead subway station. This one is on the junction with University Avenue at the lights. I’ve found the consistency between venues perfect, you always get the exact same quality.
The coffee itself is one of the better ones in the area. As a black coffee fan, I appreciate a coffee made with great espresso, and that’s exactly what you get here. I’ve had other drinks as well which are good, though I find with the latte, an extra shot wouldn’t go amiss, though most latte drinkers probably aren’t a fan of it being too strong!
The service is always quick and efficient, considering how busy this place can get, to be honest I’ve never really seen it quiet!
The only downside I find is the food, I’ve only really ever had cakes, and considering they often cost more than the coffee, I find the quality quite a bit on the poor side.
So in short, coffee– 100% yes, food– go to M&S and get a cookie

Expensive coffee and cakes with normal quality.
I prefer other kind of coffee shops, smallers or less famous but with better quality or better prices.

I am a bit… erm… keen on coffee. OK, let’s say really fond of. ALRIGHT! Addicted it is… *twitch*
On this stretch of Byers Road, there are literally loads (or hunners, if you’re of the Glaswegian vernacular) of places that will happily sell you a cup of coffee. Some are big chains, some are littler chains, some are local independent places.
I would usually try my best to go and support local business — ‘mon the Glasgow! — but sometimes it’s fine to dip your toe in corporate waters. Glasgow’s Tinderbox has a few locations, but remain a bit out there with their drink choices and décor.
This is the first Tinderbox that I ever tried out, and I can’t believe I haven’t reviewed it until now. It was here I discovered the joy of the cinnamon latte, one of the greatest things man has ever done. Never mind men on the moon, or penicillin, it’s the cinnamon latte.
Location wise, it’s on a busy street corner in the heart of a university area, so people watching at the counter seats at the big glass windows is a wonderful way to pass the time as you sip your drink.
The drink? I’ve never had a bad drink from any of the Tinderbox locations, being honest.
I had a cinnamon latte (DUH!) and it was as glorious as I remember. Spicy, warm, and absolutely perfect for a cold and wintery afternoon. The staff behind the counter were quick, friendly and I was served pretty quick for how busy it actually was.
There’s why there’s no 6^th star — it’s inevitably busy, and there’s not a lot of space to sit in. Seating is a premium here, and it;‘s not uncommon to see people hovering, waiting for a seat and pouncing like an over caffeinated cheetah.
But hey, if you can find a seat, or are taking away, go and grab your cinnamon latte and float away on a spicy coffee cloud of goodness.

Tinderbox warms my heart. It’s one of those coffee shops that make you feel cozy and relaxed the moment you step in the door. I like to stop in here on my way to class for a cappuccino. I like mine strong so I always ask for an extra shot of espresso and that usually does the trick. Otherwise I find it too milky.
They have pastries and cookies and I’ve seen people eating lunch but the menu doesn’t list what they have. They also have free wifi and a small outside area with picnic tables. The baristas are friendly and work fast.

Love tinderbox and a lovely warming cup of coffee. Tonight that’s especially true as it’s freezing outside. I’m also thankful for the amazing chocolate cheesecake, which is delish. As always it’s busy inside and the window seats are taken too. There’s always a real mix of people in here and I like that. Reasonably priced, my coffee and cake was £5 but I feel it’s worth it. Staff are always lovely, which is why I keep coming back.

Unpopular opinion time: I’m not a Tinderbox fan. Although it’s a firm favourite among students and staff at Glasgow university, as well as those local to the West End, I guess I just don’t get why. Probably I’m wrong because it’s always busy but there are sooooo many great coffee shops and cafes nearby and I’m not sure why this one does so well.
The hot drinks are good but hot drinks are good a lot of places. In some places the hot drinks are quite a lot better. The cold drinks are exactly the same as everywhere else. The food is average to poor. I was especially disapointed when ordering a latte (which was ok) and some noodles for lunch and discovered just how tiny they portion was. It was also served cold which was an unpleasant surprise — maybe I should have known they were going to be cold and I was being a bit naïve but I really wanted a hot lunch. Given the price, I wish I’d taken it away and heated it up myself — it would have been much nicer.
The price is really the main problem. It’s generally more expensive to sit in than to take away (which is reasonable considering how busy the place is and that is true in most places these days) but neither price is especially reasonable. There’s also no loyalty scheme or student discount which is almost unheard of among coffee shops in the West End. Every time I come in I wonder why I did.
If you really, really must go I concede that they do a really nice chai tea latte, their friands are good and that there aren’t many places where you can get a white hot chocolate. Maybe try those. Then move on — life is too short to revisit average cafes.

I’m really torn with my rating on this one. I am a fan and I will come back, but I think I must stick to 3 stars on this.
I like their menu and I like that they have lots of alternatives to normal milk, when my friend and I came here, post-​Dumplings, we ordered a chai latte with soy milk and I was delicious. Have you ever been to McDonalds and had one of those apple pie things? (I have strong memories of my mother liking them) If you have, then that is what the chai tastes like. It’s great! I wasn’t a huge fan of the glass it came in, and it went cold exceptionally fast.
The prices are reasonable, especially considering the location mid-​Byres Road, but even so, I wish the prices were lower.
It’s usually always buzzing when I am there, and so it can be quite the fight to get a table, and i personally believe the chairs and benches could do with some reupholstering, as the leather is ripping and the seats are flat.
The décor is funky, the view is good and the baristas seem to know what they’re doing. Based purely on the location, I will come back, but there are places that serve better, and more reasonably priced coffee.

They have a proper ‘large’ cup to hold whatever you desire. If I need a big caffeine injection, this is the place! I have never had their pastries, but they look good and the café is always hopping, so they must be doing something right!

Went to the one in Princess Square, thought it was a bar.
I was wrong.
Had a coke to think over my life, then moved on.
I suppose if I had visited for a coffee, maybe this review would be more worth your time.
4 word review?: tad pricey, nice seats.

One of my favorite coffee shops on Byers. Always buzzin with people with great coffee. Brewed or espresso I always enjoy it here. I like to sit by the huge window when I have some notes to take care of at a table. Can get a tad bit loud since it’s always bustling with people and beans grinding down but has good energy ;) I’m a fan, but one star short since there’s limited wifi here.

Tinderbox is where my coffee love lies at the moment. Finally made it to the Byres Road location on a very wet day. I think everyone had dived in for cover as it was mobbed with every kind of person. I typically take busy to be a good sign though. When you go in it doesn’t seem that big but there is plenty of seating at the back, although they have some little wooden stools that aren’t the most comfortable things to sit on. This is definitely a good spot for enjoyable coffee, people watching and letting the world go by

When Tinderbox first opened it was a godsend to the coffee-​deprived West End, and the funky interior design was certainly innovative. I was surprised to find that they have another branch in London’s Islington, decorated in the same style. I used to frequent both branches for a coffee and sandwich at lunchtime when I was passing.
And yet… in recent years there have been so many other designer coffee outlets opening up that Tinderbox has become rather passée, and I stopped patronising it some years ago when their food menu took a turn for the worse with the introduction of rather carboard-​y wraps.
Yesterday I decided to give them another chance and popped in to see if things had changed. There was a fair number of folk there, although it wasn’t lunchtime and I wouldn’t say it was at its busiest. I’d ordered a small Americano and a tuna & olive roll. There appeared to be only one barista operating, and he clearly had a list to get through before my order, as it was almost 5 minutes before my coffee arrived, by which time another two staff members had appeared. I gratefully took my wee tray and perched by the window.
The coffee was OK but I wouldn’t rate it as particularly exceptional. The cup size was quite small, which I didn’t mind as most places have vastly over-​inflated cup sizes.
The sandwich — again, the roll was quite small, but it came with a wee bag of crisps and a small tub of mayonnaise and was certainly better than I remembered.
Overall, Tinderbox was OK and has improved since my last visit, but they’re not the best value for money given the small size of cup and sandwich, and I’m not inclined to revisit them again in the near future. There are plenty of other options in Byres Road now and perhaps Tinderbox need to stop resting on their laurels and think about upping their game to match the competition.

I’m sitting in Tinderbox right now, marveling at just how big the «regular» hot chocolate is. Probably a good thing I didn’t go with the large. I’ve passed by here a lot but never stopped in before. Now that I see how late they’re open though, I’ll probably come by more. It’s nice finding a coffee shop that’s open past 6 for when I need a break from the library. Price (£2.70) for my hot chocolate wasn’t cheap, but not much more than most places in Glasgow. It might have been the best idea to pop in a few hours before going out to dinner (Banana Leaf), but I’ll worry about that later.

Can’t believe this is my first time in here, I’ll definitely be back.
Meeting a few people before we headed to the Vettriano exhibition I ordered a flat white and gave in to temptation and ordered a pear tart as well.
I stood and watched as the barista took his time to prepare my drink, served in a small glass, perfectly. A nice rich dark roast (didn’t get the name) made for a perfect cup of deliciousness, and the homemade pear tart was pretty good too, if a little on the small side.
Around the table, other teas and coffees (two lattes and a pot of tea) were well received, and the pain au chocolat was good too, tellingly I wasn’t offered any to try!
On a prime location, the prices were pretty reasonable and certainly not any higher than any of the other nearby establishments but for me it was let down by the lack of any ambiance or atmosphere.
As you enter there are stools at the windows but the rest of the seating is through the back, although there isn’t much and what there is isn’t the most comfortable. Probably ok for a quick coffee but it just wasn’t very welcoming and I wouldn’t want to camp out for very long I don’t think. Admittedly I was on a stool and there were five of us crammed round a small table; that said, there didn’t seem to be much more space to cater for anything over four at a table/​small booth.
It’s an odd space to fill for sure but I think they could do something more with it and make it a lot more inviting. Mind you, if their main business is passing trade/​takeaway then they’ve probably got it about right.
All said and done, the coffee was good and I can see me popping in if I’m passing again in the future. There was a good range of home baking and the staff were friendly and efficient and certainly knew their stuff.

If I love nothing else about Tinderbox it’s that it generally has the best hours of any coffee place in the West End.
Beyond that, the coffee is really good. While they don’t do any seasonal drinks, the baristas are well trained and the drinks are always high quality. I do recommend the cappuccinos. The food comes from a few different local providers and most of the baked goods are really good. I’m always open to having the cupcakes or the brownies. I’ve never had the sandwiches and so can’t speak for them. There is also a good selection of cold drinks.
Prices are about average for the area, but the 20p off takeaway drinks is also a nice perk if you can’t stay in.
As for the few bad things, it does get busy enough where it can often be challenging to find a place to sit. There’s not much they can do about this but it does make it harder to make it a place to relax and chat for a bit.
One other minor flaw is there is a £5 minimum for credit card use, although this is certainly nicer than when there were no credit card processing machines at all a few years ago.

Yes, I go in here every day. It has so much seating that they don’t turn anyone away. What I do notice is that there is a certain aloofness amongst the staff as though they really don’t want to get to know you. The place seems busy, busy all the time. The staff seem to move around to other branches… The toilets aren’t great. They could do with being modernised… I think that I keep going back because they do great coffee.(Although last time there was two people sitting next to one another who were shouting at each other. The kind of thing that you get a lot of where someone’s doing a project that they think everyone else should know about).Actually the whole of the West-​end of Glasgow don’t want to know about your project. It’s a pile of excrement as far as I am concerned. Let me enjoy my coffee without your shrill tones.
They also have a large amount of nespapers to read.

+ excellent coffee and cakes
— grief stricken staff
I’ve been here on several occasions, usually to meet someone who didn’t know better, and on each visit, whilst the coffee is excellent, I’m always left with the odd sensation of having walked into the tail end of a domestic.
Now, I’m not a regular, so it could just be a case of bad timing, but there always seems to be an odd atmosphere behind the counter.
I wouldn’t say the staff are rude, or, for that matter, particularly unfriendly: They just look so glum!
You can’t help feeling that you are somehow intruding on their anguish.
I’m a huge fan of the indie café scene. There is no malice in my words. Perhaps a cuddle or some counselling may be all it takes.
In the meantime, there are plenty of alternatives locally that seem a deal happier to accept my regular custom and unreserved recommendation.

I’d never been in Tinderbox before, but had meandered past in on many occasions.
The other day, it was chucking it down, I had time to kill, and it was the closest place to me, so in I went.
For a Monday afternoon, it was really busy I thought. It didn’t take me too long to get served, mind you, just a wait of a few minutes. I do love my coffee, but sometimes I have a an itch that needs scratched, and a good cup of tea is the only thing that will work.
I ordered a cup of bog-​standard, run of the mill tea — the type you’d drink in the house. A wait of around ten minutes from being served to actually getting me beloved tea. Ten minutes to put a bag in a small pot and pour boiling water in. I thought that was pretty poor, to be honest.
Next up, the cost — £2+ for a cup of tea is too pricey in my book. Maybe I’m just not cut out for this West End living! Sure, it came in a pot, but it was a one-​cup pot, so for me, that equates to grand larceny. Well, a wee bit of a rip off, more realistically.
The tea was fine — but it’s normal tea, there’s not much to it. Unless a monkey has pissed in the pot, there’s not a lot that can go wrong with a tea bag and boiling water.
All in all, I thought the décor was pleasant, but the staff seemed rather indifferent and the price irked me, and for that (to paraphrase Duncan Bannantyne), I’m out.

An unpretentious coffee experience is to be had at Tinderbox. We ordered a couple of flat whites and a really lovely slice of cake which included ginger, but, as it’s been a while since I was at TB, I can’t recall what all else was in it. We ate it; it was very good.
There’s a dining area around the back of the counter, but I preferred to be up front at the window overlooking Byres Rd., so we opted for the stools at a narrow counter spot. It was fine for a short stay such as we had.
Tinderbox is a bit more, sort of, chain-​looking than, say, AR or Offshore, but, again, the service was professional and pleasant. We were glad to have stumbled upon it.